Before Jak could bring her magic to bear, it sprang at her with incredible speed. This time she did fall backward. Yet just as it stretched its paws at her, something else flew through the trees and impaled the creature right through the throat.
Jak breathed in and out heavily. She had never seen a creature like that.
But she recognized what had stopped it from killing her. The shaft of a spear pointed straight up, embedded in the giant cat’s side. Jak turned to see who had thrown the weapon.
Several men, and a few women, stood not far away. They each had weapons raised, pointed not at the cat, but at her. Some had spears, but others had bows and slings. They were slightly darker in skin than Jak was used to seeing, though not as dark as the people of the southern kingdoms. In fact, from the way their eyes were shaped, they looked a lot like Seph.
One of them shouted at her. It was in another language she did not recognize. Though it was also different from the words spoken by the man in white during her last test. This one had more nasal tones to it.
She raised her hands high, making it clear that she had no weapon. “I can’t speak your language. Can anyone speak mine?”
The group hesitated, glancing at each other. But most furrowed their brows, confused.
“I can speak,” said a man who pushed his way to the front. He was shorter than the rest, but lean and muscular. He was clothed in simple trappings that covered everything from the waist down, but left most of his chest exposed, but for an array of trinkets that hung around his neck.
Jak silently thanked the ancestors and stood with her hands still raised. “I am not from around here. Are these the eastern nations?”
“That is what your kind calls us,” said the young man, his brow furrowed. “Where are the others?”
“The others? I’m sorry, I don’t…”
“You are here for trade, are you not?” he said. “Your people, those with the strange markings on their skin, they only come here to trade with the nobility.”
“I’m not with them. I’m here on my own.”
“For what purpose?”
“I can’t really say,” she said, though she regretted the words as soon as she said them. They probably thought she wasn’t talking because she had a secret to keep. Indeed, a woman in their group began speaking rapidly with the man in their own language. Her face did not look like she trusted Jak. But the man silenced her with a word. Apparently he not only knew her language, but also led these people.
He turned back to her, “You will come with us. You will not resist or we will kill you. Understand?”
Jak nodded, “I do.”
She let them place a bag over her head and lead her away.
15
Of course, she could have escaped at any time. They obviously didn’t know what it meant to have all the markings that she possessed. They didn’t know that she was the most dangerous person they had ever laid hands on. But she didn’t want a confrontation. Something about their leader struck her as important. She was sure that her purpose here had something to do with him, or at least with these people.
Some time later, she was forced to her knees and the bag flew off her head. She blinked to see not the leader, but the woman who had disputed with him. The woman who visibly didn’t like Jak. She stared at her quietly while the others gathered around to look at the newcomer. They were in a small wooden structure of some kind, made with multiple sticks lashed together. There was dirt beneath her feet. Smoke from an indoor fire rose through a hole in the roof. That was new. She had never seen a fire in the middle of a room before, rather than in a traditional firepit.
“I do not like you,” said the woman in front of her. So she could communicate as well. Interesting. “But Chiang seems to think there’s something different about you. So you live. But remember, one small move—” She raised a knife and hovered it mere inches from her face. “—and I will cut you dead.”
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.”
“Everyone wants to hurt us,” said the woman.
“Why?” asked Jak. She glanced around. “Are you running from someone? Perhaps I can help.”
“We don’t need any of your help,” said the woman.
“That is not exactly true.” Chiang, the leader, entered the small hut accompanied by a few others. He crouched near the fire and stared at Jak for a long moment. “You are very right, we are running. We run from our oppressors who would have us enslaved, forced to raise crops and livestock only to have it taken away from us. We are the leaders of rebellion.”
“Chiang, you can’t…” the woman began to say in a sharp tone.
“Quiet, Li,” he said. “If she wanted to kill us she would have done it by now.”
Jak met his eyes. So maybe he did know more about her than he let on.
He raised a hand to gently brush the Telekinetic brand on her forehead. “I have seen your people with these, I know what they do. Yet most have only one, and you have so many.”
Jak nodded, “I’m a bit of a special case among my people.”
“Will you explain why you are here?” he asked. “While I am grateful that you have not destroyed us all, I would like some assurances that you do not intend to betray us to the nobility.”
“It’s kind of a long story,” said Jak. “But I’ll try to sum it up for you. I’m not exactly a favorite of the nobility either.”
She tried to be as brief as possible, but the man kept asking questions. Eventually she told him of the Fae, of her abilities, and her quest for the Pillars of Eternity. The woman, Li, remained skeptical, but Chiang listened intently. And Jak had no reason to lie, so she left very little out if it was relevant.
“These are very strange things you say,” he stroked his chin when she finished. “If I had not seen the magics of your people with my own eyes, I would not believe it. I expect many of my people would not do so.”
“Perhaps I can give some demonstration,” said Jak. Without waiting for confirmation, she mentally reached out to the fire in the center of the hut. The flames rose higher, twisting and turning, its flickering light dancing along the reeds that made up the small hut. Li raised her spear, but did not make any further aggressive moves. Others around them tensed.
Jak concentrated, shaping the flame into something resembling a woman, dancing without a care in the world. Then she let the magic die, and the flames returned to their original form.
“Incredible,” said Chiang. Others that gathered around him were whispering to each other, obviously in awe of what she had just done. And it hadn’t even been that impressive. Relics, what must it be like to live in a culture without brands?
“So do you believe me?” she asked.
Li gave Chiang a sharp look, clearly indicating that she would not trust Jak. Well that was probably fair. She had just appeared out of nowhere. But she was here for a reason. Perhaps it was to help these people in some way.
Chiang tapped his fingers on his chin. “What I believe is likely irrelevant. We can’t exactly have you roaming free, no matter what your intentions are. And if it is, as you say, that you were simply brought here for reasons beyond your knowledge, then perhaps those reasons will reveal themselves.”
Jak nodded. She had thought much the same thing. But she also didn’t want to sit around and do nothing in the meantime.
“I can help with others things,” she said. “If you’re lacking food, I can give your people brands that will make food go farther.”
“Absolutely not,” said Li. “We will not allow ourselves to be branded with unknown magics by one who we just met.”
Chiang nodded. “I’m afraid Li is right. That would require an even greater degree of trust. In time, I’m sure we may come to an…”
But just then a small boy came running into the hut, out of breath and pale. He began chattering something in their own language at Chiang. Jak couldn't understand the words, but the moment the boy began to speak, the noise in the hut quickly escalated. Men an
d women began shouting over each other, trying to ask the young boy questions. Their eyes were wide with fear. Some began filing out of the hut, hurrying to another part of the small camp. Something was happening.
“She led them to us,” said Li, glaring daggers at Jak. She brandished her spear, holding the tip near Jak’s neck. But Jak did not recoil. Li wouldn’t be able to harm her if she didn’t want her to.
“Hush, Li,” said Chiang. His face was a mask of concern, but he did not panic like the others. He thanked the young boy who ran out of the hut. “She could not have brought them. They come from the north, not the south where we found her.”
“What’s going on?” Jak stared from Chiang to Li.
“Those of the nobility that would do us harm have found us,” said Chiang. “They’re sending soldiers. They will be here in a matter of minutes.”
Jak rose to her feet. Li instantly waved her spear at Jak, but in one fluid motion, Jak broke the bonds that held her, and caught the end of the spear in her hand. For a moment, nobody moved. Jak met Li’s wide eyes, trying to emphasize with a look that resisting her would be useless. Then she turned to Chiang. “How can I help?”
Chiang had not reacted to Jak freeing herself. It appeared he did know more about people with brands than he let on. “They do not know the extent of our numbers,” he said. “They must not be allowed to learn more. We must get everyone out as quickly as possible, and lead the soldiers away.”
Jak understood. “A diversion,” she said. That was something she could easily provide.
Chiang turned to Li and spoke a few words in their native language. Li shook her head at first, as if not liking what Chiang was saying to her. But from Chiang’s tone, he was insistent. Eventually she bowed her head and stepped outside of the hut with a grunt of disapproval.
Chiang turned back to Jak. “Perhaps it is fortunate that you are here, Jak. I have instructed Li to lead the people away from here. There are others, in separate rebel cells. She is to join with them.”
Jak cocked her head at Chiang. He was speaking as if he would not be with the rest of them. “And what about you?” she asked.
He sighed. “I will attempt to lead the others away. They are here for me.”
“Why? What’s so special about you?”
“I am one of them. My father is a high-ranking member of the king’s council. My leaving is a threat to them.”
Now Jak finally understood. This explained how he knew so much about her people, including her language. “They know you’re involved with the rebels?”
“I suspect so, though I’m sure they do not yet know how much we have grown in recent years. We cannot allow them to know the magnitude of the threat we pose to them.”
Jak nodded, “And I’m assuming you need my help.”
Chiang motioned her to come outside. She followed him through the hut’s small doorway to the forest beyond. Ahead of her stood rows upon rows of similar huts, all made in haste, but enough to house hundreds of people. Most were scrambling to leave, grabbing what they could and fleeing into the jungle to the rear. They left most of their provisions behind.
Chiang waved a hand at them. “We’ve lived here in the jungle for some time. If the nobility finds what we’ve built here, they will not rest until they’ve tracked us all down and eliminated us. I need you to destroy all evidence of this camp.”
Jak took in the sight. All these homes, gone in an instant. She could do it. She could level this place, make it nothing but a smoldering pit.
“And what about you?” she said, facing him.
“As I said, they are here for me. The best chance my people have of getting away is if I give myself up.”
Jak frowned. “You don’t know what they’ll do to you.”
“It is unlikely that they will kill me. I am part of the nobility after all. My father would not have it.”
“But I could protect you,” said Jak. “They won’t be able to touch you if I’m on your side.”
Chiang smiled. It reminded her of Seph’s smile, but sad. “I have no doubt of that. But we must also think of your people. If you are seen helping me, it could provide friction between our two nations. And there is already too much friction as it is.”
“So you’re saying that I can’t let them see me either?”
He nodded. “Once you are done here, I would urge you to leave, or join the rest of my people. Though I’m not sure how well they will receive you without me.”
“Li certainly doesn’t seem to like me.”
“She is cautious, it is her best quality. It has saved us more times than not. But do not let her caution fool you. She would sacrifice her life for these people.”
Shouts rose in the distance, and not from those fleeing the camp. These came from the other side, and Jak thought she could just make out the sound of people crashing through the underbrush.
“I must go,” said Chiang. He turned away from her to begin moving in the direction of the oncoming soldiers.
“Wait,” Jak said. Chiang hesitated. “What if they do kill you? Or at the very least take you prisoner?”
“Then it will be better for me to die a martyr, so that others might live.” And with that he slipped into the jungle, quickly disappearing from sight.
16
Jak turned to survey the camp. Almost everyone was gone now. Li could be seen at the opposite end, herding the remainder of the camp away from the oncoming soldiers. For a moment, Jak met the woman’s eyes. She still did not trust Jak, but she could see something in her, something that explained the faith that Chiang had in the woman. This was a woman who was true to her convictions.
Jak took a moment to breathe. Everything in the last hour or so had happened so fast. Already she felt a responsibility to these people, even though she had only met them mere moments before. Yet they shared a common thread. They were oppressed by their government in a way that she and the Fae could relate. And there was something in Chiang that inspired confidence. She hadn’t been around long enough to fully comprehend their situation, or speak with all sides. But she knew good people when she saw them. And if she could help good people, she would.
She had almost forgotten about the second Pillar of Eternity, the object that somehow created this test. What exactly was it trying to tell her? Was she meant to help these people? Or perhaps she was meant to save Chiang from torture or death. Yet the man had been right. She couldn’t save him without revealing herself, and that could create worse problems than they already had. And right now the people counted on her to cover up the evidence of their existence. Doing so would take time, and she’d have to hide in order to keep her own identity a secret.
No matter how she thought it through, she couldn’t save both Chiang and the people. She had to assume that Chiang was right, that they wouldn’t kill him. Perhaps at a later date, she could return to rescue him somehow.
Instead, she turned her attention to the jungle clearing where she now stood. At the very least, she could do what was asked of her. She could give the others a chance to escape. She could allow their dream to live on.
She started with Flamedancing.
Spurts of fire shot out of her hands in all directions, catching the nearest huts on fire. She began running, heading in the direction the other rebels had fled, spewing fire on each side as she ran. When she reached the opposite side of the clearing she turned to get a good look at her handiwork.
Nearly the entire clearing blazed in the afternoon sun, the flames reaching above the tree line. If it wasn’t such a lush, humid environment, she might have worried for the safety of the rest of the forest. But she could keep the flames from spreading if need be.
However, flames would not be enough. Chiang wanted all evidence of these people erased. The burnt husks of each dwelling would still be clearly visible to anyone who passed through. She had to obliterate what was left.
This time, she activated her Telekinesis brand, keeping the Flamedancer brand alive as she did so.
In the air in front of her, she formed a bubble of sorts out of Telekinetic energy. Then she began feeding that bubble with Flamedancer magic. An enormous fireball began to materialize, its heat rippling the air around her.
With the Telekinetic hold keeping it in place, the ball of flame grew hotter and hotter as she funneled more Flamedancer magic into it. She allowed her Telekinesis to expand, making it even bigger than before. Soon it hung over her head, grown to nearly half the size of the entire clearing.
Shouts echoed from not far away. The enemy was here. It was now or never.
With a roar of effort, she hurled the ball of fire at what remained of the improvised village. It slammed into the ground with a deafening explosion. Quickly, Jak threw up a Telekinetic barrier to protect her from any incoming projectiles. Flaming twigs and bits of dirt and rock fell all around her. Had she not been protected by her Telekinetic barrier, she would have choked on the dust that enveloped her position.
When the air cleared, there was nothing left in front of her but a gaping, burning hole of rubble and ruin. Nothing remained. Not the jungle, not the small huts, nothing. All was ash.
“Now see the consequences of your actions,” said Perchel’s voice in her ear. And the air rippled around her.
She stood among a crowd of hundreds, possibly even thousands. Everyone crowded into a courtyard, not unlike the main market square in Skyecliff. “What’s going on?” she said to the nearest bystander. Yet he did not acknowledge her. None of them did. And their bodies seemed to flow right off of her when she bumped into them. Not a one turned to confirm that they had heard her speak. She swallowed. This must be just a vision, like when she saw her father in the past.
Finally, she caught a glimpse at what everyone seemed to be staring at.
Near the center of the square was a raised platform. On that platform stood several men, some in armor, another carrying a huge axe. One man knelt beside a large block, his head resting along it.
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